For animal lovers owning a pet adds a significant level of enjoyment to their lives. The companionship, affection, playfulness and exercise involved with pet ownership are well worth the time expenditure and expenses. Selecting a pet requires honestly considering the responsibilities involved in owning a pet and budgeting for time requirements, food, grooming and veterinarian care.
Start by deciding what kind of pet you think would fit best with your lifestyle. Puppies and kittens are amazing creatures, but they need a lot of attention, training, exercise, food and health care from their owners. Assess whether you should look at adult animals that are house trained or young ones that need training and more supervision.
You may already have a preference for a dog or a cat or you may find that you would love to have a mix of animals in your life. Great, if you have the space, the time and the money to feed and care for them. A word of caution – all pets require living space, time commitments, food, exercise, and health care and multiple pets, of course, escalate all factors.
In addition to food and exercise requirements pet supplies can add up as well, such as:
- Leases
- Dog collars
- Scratching posts for cats
- Litter boxes
- Dog crates or cat crates
- Pet toys
- Bird cages
- Aquariums or fish bowls
- Pet grooming supplies
- Over-the-counter medications
- Veterinarian expenses
- and more.
An online search or a visit to your local library will provide you with information on specific types of dogs, cats, birds, fish and their unique characteristics and needs. These four categories comprise the most common house pets.
Evaluate your companionships needs and expectations. Do you want a quiet, gentle companion or an active, boisterous one? Be honest and be fair. Don’t bring a big dog into an apartment – a poor choice for you, the dog, and your neighbors. If you have a nice size yard by all means consider a medium to large dog.
Also important is the human contact your pet will need – do you work all day or is someone at home with your pet? Some companion animals are fine without constant attention, others need regular company or they may misbehave or become depressed. Recent surveys show that 63% of American homes include a pet. Consider the benefits in companionship and the pure fun of pet ownership, as well as the responsibilities.
There are a number of excellent websites and television programs devoted to learning about potential pets. Take a look at Animal Planet’s cable television channel or the website of the same name. They provide a lot of insight into various animal breeds. Do some homework on the natural characteristics and needs of your future pet – you will both benefit from an informed choice.
Once you have decided on your pet type you need to decide whether to contact a breeder or look at rescue animals. Please consider a rescue animal. Not only can you find a great companion, but you may very well be saving an animal’s life or at the very least improving the quality of their life. What a wonderful way to enrich your own life. Try looking at pets that are available for rescue in your own community or nearby by visiting PetFinder.com.